Mechanism for forming insulator brackets and the like



Dec. 1-1, 1934. c. FASSINGER MECHANISM FOR FORMING- INSULATOR BRACKETS AND THE LIKE Filed Au 7, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. -11, 1934.

c. FASS INGER MECHANISM FOR- FORMING INSULATOR BRACKETS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. '7, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R O T N E V m Des. 111, 1934. c, FASSINGER MECHANISM FOR FORMING INSULATOR BRACKETS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 7, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR D60 1934 c. FASSINGER 1,983,935

MECHANISM FOR FORMING INSULATOR BRACKETS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. '7, 1950 5 SheetsSheet 4 JNVENTOR Dec. 11, 1934. c. FASSINGER 1,983,935

I MECHANISM FOR FORMING INSULATOR BRACKETS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. '7, 1930 5 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 11, 1934 PATENT OFFICE MECHANISM FOR, FORMING INSULATOR BRACKETS AND THE LIKE Charles Fassinger, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to 0liver Iron & Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh,

Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 7 Application August 7, 1930, Serial No. 473,681

9 Claims.

brackets in accordance with the method therein disclosed and claimed.

Insulator brackets of the type, for instance, known as secondary racks comprising an elongated base member from which projects a plurality of arms, or as they are frequently termed in the art points. The outer ends of these arms have an opening therethrough, and the openings in several arms or points are in alinement so that a single long pin can be passed .therethrough. This pin serves as a support for spool-like insulators.

In my application referred to there is disclosed an insulator bracket of this type wherein the points or arms are formed. from a single piece of flat sheet metal, the, points being rigidly secured to the base plate on which they are carried. This is done by'providing an extension on the point or arm which passes through an open-r ing in the base plate of the bracket. This ex tension is upset on the -under side of the face plate. The bracket in order to possess the necessary rigidity is provided with flanges or wings which are folded down at right angles to the plane of the arm so as to impart rigidity thereto. The ends of these flanges or wings are clamped against the outer face-of the base in order to provide a firm support for the point on the base. The present invention pertains to a machine adapted to receive the flat blanks from which the points or arms are formed and to bend the points to the proper shape and then rivet the extension of the pin which passes through. the base member over to complete the assembly. In the present invention two operations are formed in rapid sequence so that insulatorv brackets of this general type can be rapidly made. The machine takes care of the actual forming operations so that it does not require the attention of a specially skilled operator. At the same time the construction and arrangement of parts is such that an insulator pin of novel construction is formed and the pin is mounted absolutely rigidly on its supporting base, as demanded by the industry in'which these articles are used. I

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents a front elevationof the completed machine, the parts being more or less generally illustrated;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the bed of the machine, on a larger scale than Fig. 1, showing the cooperating die members with a blank for forming an insulator pin inplace in one of the dies;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the dies in closed position;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, the section being in substantially the plane of line IV--IV of Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is a view generally similar to Fig. 4* but showing the dies closed together, the view being a longitudinal vertical section through a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 3 and being in substantially the plane of line V-V of Fig. 3;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the vertically reciprocating upsetting die in its lowermost position;

Figure 7 is apdetail view showing a portion of the completed article, the view being provided merely for the purpose of showing the nature of the device which the machine'is adapted to make; and

Figure-8 is a plan view of one ofv the flat blanks from which thejpin or arm is formed.

Referring first to Figs. 7 and 8, A represents the base member of an insulator support of the type commonly referred to as a secondary rack. B designates the laterally extending supporting arms vor points having a hole through the outer end thereofthrough which passes a vertical pin C, this pin carrying spool-like insulators D. The arms B are formed of an integral piece of fiat sheet metal of the shape shown in Fig. 8. The point or arm has downwardly turned parallel flanges b at each side thereof and has a portion b which passes through an opening in the base member A and which is upset or riveted over on the under side of the base member. The base member itself is in the form of a channel or rib of sheet metal having laterally extending side flanges a. The metal of the base member is tightly clamped between the riveted portion b of the arm and the ends of the wings or flanges b.

The blank shown in Fig. 8 is also designated B. It is comparatively wide at its inner end and has tapering side edges. The front terminal portion has a hole b therein. At the inner end of. the blank is a tongue or extension b3. The flat blank is bent substantially along the line a of the dotted lines in Fig. 8 to provide the downwardly extending flanges b of the completed structure shown in Fig. 7. The purpose of the 'present machine is to provide for the bending ed a die 21.

of the blank to the completed form and the securing of it to the base plate A. The insulator bracket per se and the method of forming the same are described and claimed in my copending application above referred to.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, 2 designates the frame ofa press, generally similar to an ordinary punch press, having a bed 3. In the frame 2 above the bed 3 is a vertically reciprocable head 4 which works in guides 5 and which carries a pressing die 6, this die having a concaved inner end surface 7. In the particular arrangement shown the head 4 is reciprocated by means of a connecting .rod 8 operated by a crank 9 on a horizontal shaft 10, which shaft is driven from a driving motor (not shown).

Mounted on the bed of the machine 3 under the vertically reciprocating die 7 is a fixed die block 11 having a vertically extending notch or recess 12 in the side face thereof. At each side of the recess 12 on the front face of the block are shoulders 13. Secured to the front of the block 11 are keeper plates 14 the edges of which slightly overhang the shoulders 13. The ends of these keeper plates are rounded as indicated at 14**. In Fig. '2 I'have shown one of the blanks B in position in the die block 11. The blank B slips vertically into the guideway formed between the shoulders 13 and the keeper plates 14. The blanks are inserted with the punched end extending down and the tongue or extension b projecting vertically up. This is most clearly shown in Fig. 4. In this position the lowermost end of the blank sets on a cross support 15 as shown inFig. 4. Back of the cross support 15 is a passage 16 that opens into a horizontal passage 17 through which scale, oxide or other foreign matter may drop out of the bottom of the groove or cavity 12. Mounted on the bed of the machine to the left of the die block 11 as shown in the drawings, there is a fixed horizontal guideway .18 in which is a horizontally reciprocable carriage or member 19. The member 19 has a cross head 20 thereon in which is movably mount- This die is of slightly less width than the cavity or matrix 12 in the block 11. It is adapted to be reciprocated toward the right from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. In so doing the forward end of the die 21 engages the middle portion'of the blank B supported in front of the cavity 12. As the die continues to move to the right it pushes the main body of the blank back, folding the edges or wings of the body, as shown in Fig. 3,

to form the flanges b of the completed arm structure.

Mounted below the die 21 on the cross head 20 is a pin '22 having a projection or pin 23 of smaller diameter at the forward end thereof,

'this projection being of the same diameter as the holes 12 in the blank. The pin is so positioned that when the die moves forward the pin will enter the hole of a blank supported in the die 11. Since the pin portion 23 projects beyond the end of the die 21 the pin 23 enters the hole in the blank before the die engages the blank.

The carriage or slide member 19, to perform the operation desired, must operate in a predetermined relation with respect to the operation of the plunger 6. For operating the member 19 there is provided a crank disc 24 on the end of the shaft 10. This crank disc is provided with The with an angular lever 2'7 fulcrumed at 28. The lever 27 operates a toggle mechanism 29, which toggle mechanism transmits motion to a horizontal link 30. The forward end of the link 30 is pivotally connected to the end of the reciprocable carriage or member 19 at 31.

The crank 25 is so set with reference to the crank 9 that the toggle mechanism begins to operate to move the die 21 toward the right when the plunger 6 is in its uppermost position. The toggle mechanism is so constructed that when the die member 21 has been moved to the extreme position which it reaches on the right there is considerable lost motion which allows the plunger to come down to its lowermost position and begin to rise before the die 21 begins to move back toward the left to its original starting position,

In the operation of the machine the flat blank B is heated to a bright red heat, the portion of the blank having the tongue I) and the side flanges being heated to the greatest extent while the metal immediately adjacent the eye is relatively cold. The heated blank is then set in an inverted position in the guideway formed between the shoulders 13 and the keeper plates 14, the eye of the blank resting on the portion 15 of the die block as shown in Fig. 4. The base plate A of the insulator bracket is then laid on top of the die block and the tongue b projects through an opening a in this plate.

At this time the plunger is in its uppermost position and the laterally movable pressing die 21 is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, in which position it is at the extreme left-hand limit of its travel. The press at this time is set into operation by the operation of a pedal, in the usual way. The crank 24 immediately sets the toggle mechanism into motion to cause the head 20 to move to the right from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 5. In moving in this direction the pin 23 first enters the hole I) in the blank. Then the end of the die 21 engages the surface of the blank and forces the central part of the blank back into the cavity 12. In so doing the side edges of the blank are folded in so that the upper end of the blank is substantially U -shape in cross-section, as clearly shown in Fig. 12. The rounded edges 14 of the plates 14 serve to permit this inward folding of the side flanges of the blank.

As the die 21 approaches the limits of its travel to the right the head 4 of the press starts to lower, bringing the die 6 down toward the upwardly projecting tongue b of the blank. When the blank is bent to the position shown in Fig. 3 the tongue 22 is moved to the right, dragging the base plate A along with it. When the die 21 has completed its work the tongue 12 is directly under the center of the plunger 6. The plunger 6 continues to lower as the die 12 dwells at the limit of its movement in a right-hand direction,

operation the metal of the blank at the point where it passes through the opening a is increased in thickness, thereby strengthening the point or arm at this place.

At this time the pin 23 serves to support the blank against downwardmovement so that the upsetting operation is madeeffective. "This downward movement of the blank is further increased by the fact that the blank is firmly clamped between the die 21 and the face of the die block 11. In order to absolutely insure against any slippage at this time, small projections 21 are formed on the end of the die 21, these projections pressing to the hot metal blank, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. I

Upon further operation of the press the plunger 6 lifts away from the upset end of the blank, and the die 21 is then retracted through the operation of the toggle mechanism.

Mounted in the die block 11 is a cross bar 33 received within a slot 34 in the block 11. The front face of this cross bar opens into the cavity 12, as best shown in Fig. 4, and compression springs 35 hearing against opposite ends of the bar serve to urge it toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 4. This cross bar is a kick-out which operates to force the pressedblank to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, after the pressing operation has been completed. Incidentally, the surface of this bar may be embossed to press a trade mark or other device into the surface of the metal when the blank is forced against it, as in Fig. 6.

The completed insulator rack has several points or arms projecting from the base A. To complete the assembly, after the first arm has been inserted, as shown in Fig. 6, the base plate A is lifted up clear of the machine and another blank B is inserted in the die. The base plate A is then put backin place, but with the tongue 11 of the second blank projecting through the opening a in the base. At this time the first pin which has been secured on the base is received in the groove or channel 36 at the back of the die block 11.

The operation previously described is then repeated and the second pin secured in place. Likewise, other pins are secured in the several openings designated a in the base plate A.

At 3? and 38 are secured supports on which the base plate A rests vduring'the operation of applying the pins or arms thereto. At 39 is a cover plate for partially enclosing the reciprocating portion of the machine and keeping it free of dirt.

The member 19 is guided in the bed of the machine partially by side rails 18 which overhang the top of the member 19. The ends of these guide rails are tapered or beveled at 18 so that when the head 20 moves back to the left as viewed in Fig. 3 the edges 20 will cause the fingers of the operator, if they should be on the rails, to be pushed onto the inclined surface where they cannot be injured.

The machine as thus constructed provides an effective apparatus for carrying out the process described in my said copending application for shaping the arms or pins from fiat sheet metal and securing them to the base on which they are carried. The operation of the machine does not require skilled labor, and the assembly of insulator racks can be rapidly carried on.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the particular construction and arrangements of parts herein specifically described, but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for the purpose specified, a stationary die adapted to receive and hold a flat sheet metal blank having a tongue at one end thereof in a vertical position with the tongue projecting above the top of the die, a reciprocating die movable in a direction normal to the plane of the sheet metal blank and arranged to cooperate with the first die to fold the edges of the blank inwardly to form vertically extending side flanges thereon, a plunger reciprocable in a direction at right angles to the second die and adapted to upset the tongue portion of the blank, and means at the top of said stationary and movable dies below the lowermost limit of movement of said plunger for supporting a base member in such position that the tongue of said blank may pass through an opening in said base member and be operated upon by said plunger without substantial distortion of the base member.

2. Ina machine for the purpose specified, a stationary die adapted to receive and hold a flat sheet metal blank having a tongue at one end thereof in a vertical position with the tongue projecting above the top of the die, a reciprocating die movable in a direction normal to the plane of the sheet metal blank and arranged to cooperate with the first die to fold the edges of the blank inwardly to form vertically extending side flanges thereon, a plunger reciprocable in a direction at right angles to the second die and adapted to upset the tongue portion of the blank, said first two dies being arranged to clamp the blank against endwise movement during the upsetting operation, and means at the top of said stationary and movable dies below the lowermost limit of movement of said plunger for supporting a base member in such position that the tongue of said blank may pass through an opening in said base member and be operated upon by said plunger without substantial distortion of the base member. I

3. In a machine for the purpose specified, a stationary die adapted to receive and hold a fiat sheet metal blank having a tongue at one end thereof, a reciprocating die movable in a direction normal to the plane of the sheet metal blank and arranged to cooperate with the first die to fold the edges of the blank inwardly to form vertically extending side flanges thereon, and a plunger reciprocable in a direction at right angles to the second die and adapted to upset the tonguep-ortion of the blank, the second die and the plunger being connected to a common driving means, said driving means being arranged to move the second die into fianging engagement with the blank before the plunger upsets the tongue, and to move out of engagement with the formed blank after the upsetting operation, and means at the top of said stationary and movable dies below the lowermost limit of movement of said plunger for supporting a base member in such position that the tongue of said blank may pass through an opening in said base member and be operated upon by said plunger without substantial distortion of the base member.

4. In a machine of the character described, comprising a stationary die having a cavity including spaced vertical abutments for supporting a flat blank, and a vertically extending recess between said abutments for receiving the blank upon deformation thereof into substantially U- shape, a movable die cooperating with the stationary die to press the fiat blank into the recess a vertically reciprocable die for operating on the upper end of said blank, said stationary and movable dies having surfaces below the lower limit of movement of the vertically reciprocable die for supporting an associated blank so that one end of the first-mentioned blank extends through a hole in said associated blank and may be engaged by the vertically reciprocable die without distortion of the associated blank.

5. A machine of the character described comprising a stationary die having a cavity including spaced abutments for supporting a flat blank, a recess between said abutments for receiving the blank for deformation into substantially U- shape, a movable die cooperating with the stationary die to press the flat blank into the recess, a pin on said movable die for entering an eye in one end of the blank, the other end of the blank extending through an associated blank, and movable means for engaging and deforming said other end of said first-mentioned blank to secure the two blanks together.

,6. A machine of the character described comprising a stationary die having a cavity including spaced abutments for supporting a flat blank, a recess between said abutments for receiving the blank for deformation into substantially U-shape, a movable die cooperating with the stationary die to press the flat blank into the recess, one of said dies having means for preventing axial movement of said flat blank, a pin on said movable die for entering an eye in one end of the blank, the other end of the blank extending through an associated blank, and movable means for engaging and deforming said other end of said first-mentioned blank to secure the two blanks together.

'7. A machine of the character described com prising a stationary die having a cavity including spaced abutments for supporting a flat blank, a recess between said abutments for receiving the blank for deformation into substantially U-shape, a movable die cooperating with the stationary die to press the flat blank into the recess, a pin on said movable die for entering an eye in one end of the blank, the other end of theblank extending through an associated blank, and movable means for engaging and deforming. said other end of said'first-mentioned blank to secure the two blanks together, the movable die and the movable means for deforming the end of said first-mentioned blank being connected to a common driving means, said driving means being arranged to move the said movable die into flanging engagement with the blank before the movable means upsets the tongue and to move out of engagement with the formed blank after the upsetting engagement.

8. A machine of the character described comprising a stationary die having a cavity including spaced abutments for supporting a flat blank, a, recess between said abutments for receiving the blank for deformation into substantially U- shape, means on the stationary die for holding a flat blank in front of the recess, a movable die cooperating with the stationary die to press the fiat blank into the recess, a pin on said movable die for entering an eye in one end of the blank, the other end of the blank extending through an associated blank, and movable means for engaging and deforming said other end of said firstmentioned blank to secure the two blanks together. I

9. A machine of the character described comprising a stationary die having a cavity including spaced abutments for supporting a flat blank, a recess between said abutments for receiving the blank for deformation into substantially U-shape, the recess having an opening in the bottom thereof through which foreign matter may escape from the cavity and having a bridge in front of the opening on which the end of the blank may rest, a movable die cooperating with the stationary die to press the fiat blank into the recess, a pin on said movable die for entering an eye in one end of the blank, the other end of the blank extending through an associated blank, and movable means for engaging and deforming said other end of said first-mentioned blank to secure the two blanks together.

CHARLES FASSIN GER. 

